Draft Aftermath: IDP Winners and Losers, AFC East

Eric Breeze Posted On May 7, 2015

hightower

As exciting as it is to drool over incoming rookies each year, it inevitably has an inverse effect on some veteran players. While it’s important to realize a lot of these players were drafted to provide depth on NFL rosters and will potentially never make a single career start, the majority were selected with the intention to replace veterans throughout the league. Here we’ll touch on the IDP “Winners and Losers” in the AFC East.

Winners

Preston Brown/Nigel Bradham, ILB BUF

Rumors at the beginning of free agency included Rex Ryan wanting to bring David Harris with him to captain the Bills defense – that did not happen and Buffalo did not draft any inside linebackers so it proves Rex is confident with these two young potential IDP stars manning the middle of one of the elite defenses in the entire NFL

Jelani Jenkins/Koa Misi, LB MIA

The Dolphins landed the prized Ndamukong Suh this free agency and followed it up with drafting Jordan Phillips in the second round. The Miami front four is now one of the league’s best and will keep opposing blockers off their linebackers to allow them to tackle the ball carrier.

Dont’a Hightower, MLB NE

Hightower was fantastic last year in all aspects of the game. He had off-season shoulder surgery and is currently recovering but the Patriots have decided to pick up his fifth year rookie option. This option is worth over seven million dollars so its obvious the Patriots think he is a vital part to their defense. The addition of potential stud defensive tackle Malcom Brown to play in front of him doesn’t hurt, either.

Lorenzo Mauldin, OLB NYJ

With both Calvin Pace and Jason Babin 34 years old, Mauldin looks to have first crack of locking down a long term starting outside linebacker spot opposite of Quentin Coples. Rush linebackers are not worth rostering in tackle heavy leagues but this third round pick could prove to me a nice pickup in deep sack heavy leagues.

Losers

Leodis McKelvin/Corey Graham

Both of these players were very effective cornerbacks in IDP last year, but the Bills decided to select Ronald Darby in the second round. Stephon Gilmore is locked into one of the starting corner spots so it will be a battle for snaps between the other three.

Rob Ninkovich

The Patriots made an obvious effort to strengthen their outside pass rush this offseason. Jabaal Sheard was added in free agency and the Pats also drafted two defensive ends in the first 101 picks. Ninkovich played poorly last year but was a good IDP option because of his high snap counts, which look to be decreasing this year.

Patrick Chung, SS NE

Patriots reached in the second round for strong safety Jordan Richards – this may not be a worry for Chung owners since he played very well last year, however, the Patriots are one of the few teams that do not throw away draft picks. Chung also struggled badly in 2013 as an Eagle.

Muhammed Wilkerson/Sheldon Richardson, DL NYJ

The selection of Leonard Williams was amazing value and will help the Jets in real life tremendously, however, it feels like a kick to the gut for IDP. I’m a big fan of Muhammed Wilkerson, so this makes his future murky. Will he get traded? Will the Jets use a three man rotation of Wilkerson, Williams and Sheldon Richardson to dampen all three of their IDP production? This is something you need to keep your eyes peeled for. As of right now I’m bumping both Wilkerson and Richardson down a tier in my rankings.

Follow me on Twitter @BreezeIDP.

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